Two uncapped players have been included in the All Whites which is headlined by the return of former captain Tommy Smith from his self-imposed international exile.
The All Whites Tommy Smith. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
In August, Smith controversially announced he was taking a 12-month break from international football, to focus on his season in the English Championship with Ipswich Town.
However after meeting with Hudson in person it appears the defender has changed his mind, breaking his self-imposed hiatus just two months after going into international hibernation.
After meeting Smith as part of his trip to Europe earlier this month, Hudson says having the Ipswich Town defender on board is a big boost to the side.
"Talking to Tommy it was obvious he had a great desire to be part of the All Whites squad and his vision for the team matches our own heading towards Russia."
"It's great that he will be back involved as we begin to chart our path forwards over the next year."
The two fresh faces named for next month's international football friendlies against China and Thailand are the Junior All Whites goalkeeper Oliver Sail and defender Jesse Edge.
The squad includes recent debutants Thomas Doyle and Joel Stevens as well as one-cap All Whites James Musa (Team Wellington) and Louis Fenton (Wellington Phoenix).
After a recent trip to Europe to visit All Whites players in their club environments, coach Anthony Hudson welcomes Ispwich Town defender Tommy Smith back into the fold while European-based players Marco Rojas and Ryan Thomas return to the side after missing the recent clash with Uzbekistan in Tashkent.
The Portland Timbers MLS goalkeeper Jacob Gleeson - who last played for the All Whites against the Solomon Islands at the OFC Nations Cup in 2012 - also returns to the squad while midfielder Dan Keat, playing in Sweden with Falkenbergs FF, is named in the team having not featured since March last year.
Hudson says the squad has been chosen with a primary goal in mind - qualification for the next FIFA World Cup tournament in Russia in 2018.
"We've reached an important moment in the evolution of the All Whites," Hudson said.
"In result terms we've not achieved to the required level in recent times and we intend to build a squad of players which is capable of not only securing a place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia but succeeding there."
"That building process required that we take a very close look at the mix of players we have, how often we work together and the style of play we employ in camps and games."
"The squad we've chosen for the China and Thailand games is the first assembled with those factors in mind."
Having made the trip to Uzbekistan in September, goalkeepers Glen Moss and Tamati Williams, Andrew Durante and Chris James have not been selected for the November internationals.
"The squad has been chosen with a view to the future and creating a deeper pool of players capable of representing New Zealand with distinction at the highest level," Hudson said.
"The door certainly remains open to any player not named in this current squad and part of the process we're going through is establishing greater competition for places in our team. The squad we've chosen reflects that intent."
Hudson is set to be joined by new assistant head coach Alex Armstrong, pending a work visa application, in a role which also includes a strength and conditioning component.
Armstrong links up again with Hudson after working with him in his previous role with Bahrain and the All Whites coach says he is an ideal fit for a position with duel responsibilities moving forward.
"Alex has good experience and compliments me; he's worked internationally and has competed in high profile games such as the Championship playoffs, something very similar to what we aim to experience in 2017."
Armstrong's appointment spells the end of recent caretaker coach Neil Emblen's involvement with the New Zealand side.
"I'd like to thank Neil Emblen for his contribution to the All Whites in recent times, first as interim coach and then as assistant for the Uzbekistan game."
"During his time as interim coach Neil laid some excellent foundations for the squad and the knowledge he shared when I was new to the country has been invaluable."
"On top of that, Neil is a good man and I have a huge amount of respect for him."
The first match of the November international window is against China on Friday November 14th with the second game against Thailand on Wednesday November 19th (NZ time).
All Whites squad
November, 2014
Caps/Goals/Club
Goalkeepers
Jacob Gleeson - 6/0, Portland Timbers/USA
Oliver Sail 0/0, Wellington Phoenix/NZ
Defenders
Michael Boxall - 9/0, Wellington Phoenix/NZ
Thomas Doyle - 1/0, Wellington Phoenix/NZ
Jesse Edge - 0/0, Vicenza Calcio/ITA
Louis Fenton - 1/0, Wellington Phoenix/NZ
James Musa - 1/0, Team Wellington/NZ
Winston Reid (capt) - 18/1, West Ham Utd/ENG
Storm Roux - 4/0, Central Coast Mariners/AUS
Tommy Smith -27/2, Ispwich Town FC/ENG
Midfielders
Cameron Howieson - 9/0, Burnley FC/ENG
Dan Keat - 5/0, Falkenbergs FF/SWE
Michael McGlinchey - 28/3, Wellington Phoenix/NZ
Tim Payne - 11/2, Auckland City FC/NZ
Bill Tuiloma - 5/0, Olympique Marseille/FRA
Ryan Thomas - 2/0, PEC Zwolle/HOL
Forwards
Kosta Barbarouses - 26/2, Melbourne Victory/AUS
Tyler Boyd - 3/0, Wellington Phoenix/NZ
Jeremy Brockie - 44/1, Wellington Phoenix/NZ
Marco Rojas -18/1, SpVgg Greuther Furth/GER
Joel Stevens - 1/0, Wellington Phoenix/NZ
Chris Wood - 35/12, Leicester City FC/ENG
Match schedule
China v All Whites
Nanchang, China
Friday 14 November, Kickoff TBC
Thailand v All Whites
Bangkok, Thailand
Tuesday 18 November, 6.30pm (12.30am, Wed 19 Nov, NZ time)
